The Impact of the Microbiome in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Recent advances in the characterization of complex microbial communities have led to an improved understanding of the sinonasal microbiome in both healthy and pathologic states. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis is a complex and heterogeneous disease process that is characterized by distinct microbiome perturbations. These include decreased overall diversity, an increased relative abundance of organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella, Parvimonas, and decreased relative abundance of Corynebacterium and Anaerococcus. It is also characterized by a dysregulated host-immune response which appears to interact with the sinonasal microbiome.